Study by X-Ray Tomography of the Mechanical Behavior of Concrete Foundations Affected by ASR

High-voltage electricity pylons are anchored in concrete foundations, which are mainly subjected to pull-out and compression loads. Under these loads, concrete aging and pathologies can lead to mechanical stability issue, and even failure. The alkali-silica reaction is a possible pathology that can be encountered in this type of structure. The aim of this work is to propose a method to analyze the mechanical behavior of the foundation affected by ASR under pylon pull-out. ASR is introduced, and an experimental protocol is proposed to create it in the mortar. A pylon pull-out test from a small-scale mortar foundation is carried out directly in an X-ray tomograph. This so-called in-situ test, coupled with computed tomography (CT), enables the force-displacement curve and failure modes to be analyzed. The test has already been carried out on sound mortar and will be extended to mortar affected by ASR. It will then be possible to deduce the influence of ASR on foundation failure modes.